Fiorentina right-back Dodo attracted interest from Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window, with the Brazilian reportedly open to making the move.
Oliver Glasner’s side submitted a late offer for the defender, but Fiorentina turned it down despite being willing to part ways with the 27-year-old. Evangelos Marinakis also explored the possibility of taking Dodo to Olympiacos, although that approach was met with the same response.
Fiorentina’s decision was partly influenced by the fact that Dodo’s contract expires in 2027. The Serie A club were keen to avoid losing him for nothing and therefore wanted to find a suitable solution in the transfer market.
However, further details have now emerged regarding Dodo’s situation at Fiorentina.
Dodo’s difficult start to the season
Dodo featured in Fiorentina’s opening league fixture against AS Roma, but it turned into a night to forget as La Viola suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat.
Since then, the Brazilian has found himself on the fringes of the squad, raising further questions over his future at the club.
Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini has now provided an insight into what has been happening behind the scenes.
Speaking to RTV38, Ceccarini suggested that Dodo was not in the best frame of mind during pre-season and hinted that his situation could still change.
“Fiorentina tells us that the player didn’t train very well over the summer and wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” Ceccarini explained.
“But then he stayed, and during the break they’ll talk about a bridging contract extension, which doesn’t mean keeping him but would mean selling him better.”
That means Fiorentina could potentially extend Dodo’s contract simply to protect his market value rather than necessarily committing to keeping him long-term.
Ceccarini also stressed that the club have not yet made a final decision regarding a new deal for the defender.
“If he were completely out of the project, they wouldn’t even put him on the bench. I think there’s a middle ground,” he added.
“I don’t think he’s a player who can’t play. There’ll be more desire from the club to make him available to the manager, but it’s up to the club.”
Nottingham Forest may have made the right call
From Fiorentina’s actions, it appears the club were ultimately searching for a buyer for Dodo during the summer.
That could have presented Nottingham Forest with an opportunity, but the Premier League side already secured Daniel Munoz, who arguably offers a more dependable option at right-back.
Munoz has already proven himself in the Premier League and brings greater reliability at both ends of the pitch.
Dodo, meanwhile, has occasionally struggled with his defensive work, while his final delivery can also be inconsistent.
Forest’s decision to bring in Munoz also made sense given his familiarity with Oliver Glasner. The Colombian’s arrival can be viewed as another indication that the manager has received significant backing from the club’s hierarchy.
“Wasn’t in the right frame of mind” – Nottingham Forest transfer collapse appears to have left star unsettled
